Broadcast receiver apparatus for automatic press button tuning



9 E. STEFFENS v 2,335,812

BROADCAST RECEIVER APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC PRESS BUTTON TUNING FiledFeb. 15, 1941 I IE ENTQR ATTORNEY} Patented Nov. 30, i943 UBROADCASTRECEIVER APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC PRESS BUTTON TUNING Eugen Stefiens,Berlin-Slemensstadt, Germany; vested in the Alien Property CustodianApplication February 15, 1941, Serial No. 379,065 In Germany September30, 1939 rod occupies its innermost position. In this position the pushrod I is arrested and locked by the aid of an arrester deviceconsistingof a slide or latch barlll. By means of a spring 9 5 the latch bar 10 ispressed firmly against .the push rod I. For arresting or preventing there- ;fljease of-the push rod it is fittedwith a catch l tons is renderedinoperative. In the convern- E0 l a singjthepush rod I, there isprovided a tional type of keyboard, as will be remembered, p g '2 whichiSQsO proportioned that'its rethe press-button stays immobile orlockedand is m {tractile forcejust 'suiiices to return the push rod allowed toreturn to its inoperative position only ,if and when'vliberated;by,theslide ID. The preswhen another press button is actuated. Thus, if 2isure'l'otgthe slide l0 against the push rod l due 7 Claims.

Broadcast receiver sets with push-button or press-button (automatic)tuning are often furnished with a distinct release button or anequivalent device by the agency of which on changing from press-buttontuning to normal tuningby means of a continuously revoluble knobcontrol, the keyboard or the bank of press or push buta change is to bemade from press-button tuning spring traction by the p n p QDO tion'ed'that by the pull .oilthe'sp'ring 12 the slide l'ic'an'ho't be movedlbythecatch I I. If, then, -tuationsjof the rotary knob l3 orvsome other Y.khob connected withtheitun'ing means of 'a transmission'gear; cable orthe like lie-rotary:condensershaft 8 is moved, then, hrough theintermediary; of the tooth-Wheels 5a fij-also therocker 5 and therewiththe rods hd liareturned'. 'By these rods 3-and 4 presur'ec-is broughttoact upon thestriker .2 which ill be' exerted according to thedirection of ropen the lower or the upper part of the he pressure whichis exerted upon the iece 2 ,becomes added to the traction to thecontinuous tuningvby knob, it is.e ither necessary to operate-a distinctrelease button to which causes the depressed buttonto retum'to" itsinactive position or else the' ,kyboa'rd for automatic tuning must berender'ed t by some other'ways and means, -,I=I -..v A

drawbacks "are obviated by thefinven'tio'n n broadcast receivers as heredisclosed 'th' 'pre's button or key last set and operated is" releasedfrom its locked and depressed position in a simple; way by turning therotary knob n gt q w y 3 suitthantgzthepush rod l is able to fly backinto the tuning means and serving: for continuous tuning. When settingthe rotary" condenser v-fbyj the aid of the tuning knob thearrestinglof-loeking of the press button bank"is' autogn'atially andpositively'released or trippedigi'lo-this and for arresting the pressbuttonsf'a slid rester device may be provided:

Dress buttons are unlocked."

shown by way of example in the appendedzdra ing. Only one of the pushbuttons'of the whole bank normally provided is here shown in itsentirety, an additional push-'button'being shown; partially. The pressrod 1 which is'conneotedwith the button or key is fitted with a strikerpiece or actuator indicated at 2. When'the press or push rod I isdepressed, the said striker i v p v V .50 continuously v variable tuningmeans, a menu piece 2 comes to bear against the rods 3 and 4 of therocker 5. Thro'ughthe intermediary of the said rocker 5 and of thetooth-wheels 6 and l the rotary condenser shaft 8 or other shaft servingto move the tuning means is set. After the rocker 5 has been thusoperated the push I an r e? trikeri z depres's-theislide Hlbythe catchH, with the reits starting position.

' w im claim is: p r I Q1; In tunable radio signalling apparatus adaptedto be tuned by adjustment of a continuousl-y variable tuning means, amanually. con

-troll ed 'device capable loi only rotary motion' :for operating saidtuningjmeans, a. push button tunlng' 'instrumentality-oi the-typewherein the demfthetiining meanstoa predetermined position;

eans'Jforf-holding an operated push button in a c neainscoupledwith saidmanuallyg controlled device-and actingonly upon Erotation thereof in "f.ei th rdirection,ior-i effecting."the release-ofanydepressed-pushjbuttoh"oi said Iush nbutton tun:-

"powe' ,dffthe spring it. This pull will sufiice to p es sionlrof La-push ibutton mechanically adjusts c depressed position. until; releasedby the subse--' quent yoperationpt another; push button; and

push button in a depressed position and for releasing the push buttonupon the subsequent operation of another push button, and means coupledwith said manually operable device and acting only upon rotation thereofin either direction for forcing the catch of any depressed push buttonout of engagement with said locking bar to thereby effect the release ofsuch a push button.

3. In tunable radio signalling apparatus provided with a continuouslyvariable tuning means, a manually operated tuning knob capable of onlyrotary motion coupled to said tuning means for positioning said variabletuning means, a push button tuning instrumentality operatively connectedto said variable tuning means, said tuning instrumentality including aplurality of operable push button devices each thereof acting uponoperation to effect the adjustment of said tuning means to apredetermined position, resilient means for biasing each of said pushbuttons toward their respective released positions, a looking bar, acatch on each of said push button devices cooperating with said lockingbar for holdingan operated push button device in a depressed positionagainst the action of said resilient means until the subsequentoperationof another one of said push buttons, and means acting only uponthe rotation of said tuning knob in either direction for forcing thecatch of any depressed push butt-on device over the locking bar tothereby release the depressed push button whereby its associatedresilient means returns the same to its released position.

4. In tunable radio receiver provided with a continuously variabletuning means, a manually operated tuning knob capableof only rotarymotion coupled to said tuning means forpositioning said variable tuningmeans, a push button tuning instrumentality operatively connected tosaid variable tuning means, said tuning instrumentality including'aplurality of operable push button devices each acting upon operation toadjust said variable tuning means to a predetermined position, means forreturning a depressed push button to its released position, a pivotedbail, means on each of said push buttons cooperating with said bail forlatching an operated push button in a depressed position against theaction of saidreturning means and in the process of the depression ofits push button to act upon said bail to cause the same to release anypreviously operated push button, and means acting only upon operation ofsaid tuning knob in either direction for unlatching said latching meansof any depressed push button to thereby release the depressed pushbutton.

5. In tunable-radio signalling apparatus provided with a continuouslyvariable tuning means, a manually operated tuning knob capable of onlyrotary motion coupled to said tuning means for positioning said variabletuning means, a push button tuning instrumentality operatively connectedto said variable tuning means, said tuning instrumentality including aplurality of operable push button devices each acting upon operation toadjust said variable tuning means to a predetermined position, means forapplying a returning force to a depressed push button, a movable lockingbar having a locking position and a releasing position, resilient meansfor biasing said bar toward its locking 5 position, means including acatch on each of said push buttons cooperating with said locking barwhen the locking bar is in its locking position, for holding an operatedpush button in a depressed position against the action of its returningmeans and while the push button is being depressed, to move said bartemporarily to its releasing position to thereby effect the release ofany previously operated push button device, and means acting only uponoperation of said tuning knob in either direction for causing the catchmeans of a depressed push button to force said locking bar to itsreleasing position to thereby release the depressed push button. 1- 6.In a radio receiver provided with a variable 2 tuning reactor, 2.pivoted rocker bar, coupling means interposed between the rocker bar andthe tuning reactor, push-button tuning mechanism including a pluralityof reciprocable push-button devices each thereof acting upon operationto effect a predetermined adjustment of the rocker bar andcoincidentally the tuning reactor, a spring for biasing each push-buttondevice to its inoperative position, a spring-pressed locking bar, acatch on each of said push-button devices cooperating with said lockingbar for holding an operated push-button device in a depressed positionagainst the action of its spring until the subsequent operation ofanother one of said push-buttons, and a manual control member associatedwith the tuning reactor acting upon rotation thereof in either directionfrom the position of adjustment determined by a previously operatedpush-button for applying to the rocker bar through said coupling meanssuf- -ficient force which is additive to that of the biasing springassociated with the push-button device to overcome the force of thespringpressed locking bar whereby the depressed pushbutton is releasedfor return to its inoperative 45 position.

'7. In a radio receiver provided with a variable tuning reactor, a firstmeans for adjustably setting said reactor comprising a pivoted rockerbar mechanically coupled to the tuning reactor,

a plurality of reciprocable push-button devices each thereof acting uponoperation to effect a predetermined adjustment of the rocker bar andcoincidentally the tuning reactor, a locking bar, a catch on each ofsaid push-button devices cooperating with said locking bar for holdingan operated push-button device in a depressed position until thesubsequent operation of another one of said push-buttons, and a secondmeans associated with the tuning reactor for adjusting said reactorindependently of the first means, said second adjusting means actingupon rotation thereof in either direction for effecting release of apreviously operated push-button by the locking bar through theintermediary of the pivoted rocker bar whereby the depressed pushbuttonis released to enable it to return to its inoperative position.

'EUGEN STEFFENS.

